Handle for vacuum cleaners and the like



HANDLE FOR VACUUM CLEANERS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 19, 1923 Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD W. WIEHLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO IBIRTMAN ELECTRICCOM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

- HANDLE FOR VACUUM CLEANERS ANDTHE LIKE.

Application filed September 19, 1923. Serial No. 663,583.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD W. WIEHLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of 6 Illinois, haXe invented new and useful Improvements in Handles for Vacuum Cleanersand the like, of which the following is a specification. I i

This invention relates toimprovements in an improved handle adjustingmechanism for vacuum cleaners and the like. By means of the improvedhandle adjusting mechanism the handle may readily be placed in any oneof several different positions and automatically retained in suchposition, thereby removing the weight of such handle from the operatorwhile the machine is in use. By the use of the improved adjustablehandle it is also possible to place the handle in 2 an upright positionand have the same automatically held in such position so that when themachine is put away, out of use, the handle will remain upright, out ofthe way and easily accessible. By the use of my invention it is alsopossible to place the handle of the cleaner at an angle of substantially45 and have the same remain there Without attention from the operator.This is especially de- 30 sirable in using cleaning attachments, such asbrushes and the like, which are attached to the cleaner by a longflexible hose and operated manually for cleaning upholstered furniture,walls, curtains and the like. 85 When using such attachments, theoperator works with the same, sometimes at some distance from thecleaner. When thus using these attachments, the cleanerremains on the 4floor with the motor running to furnish the proper suction. When thusoperating, it it a distinct advantage to have the handle of the cleanersupported at an angle of substantially because in this position, thedust separating bag of the cleaner, the upper 45 end of which issupported by the handle, is held in such a position that its inlet isentirely unrestricted. In a cleaner without any mechanical means for sosupporting the handle at an angle of substantially 45,

when using the attachments at a little distance from the cleaner, wherethe operator can not manually support the handle, it is necessary toallow the handle to rest on the floor or else support it in an uprightposition. In each of such positions, however, the inlet of the dustseparating bag is restricted to a certain extent thus impairing theefliciency of the cleaner. Another advantage of thus supporting thehandle at an angle of substantially 45 when using the cleanerattachments is the fact that this position of the handle places theelectric operating switch in a most accessible position to the operator.In using the cleaning attachments the operator may assume variouspositions ranging from a crouching position on the floor to an extendedone to reach an object at some height. IVith the handle of the cleanerat an angle of 45 the electric switch is supported in such a positionthat it may readily be reached by the operator when crouching on thefloor or standing upright. If the handle were allowed to rest on thefioor it would be necessary for the operator to reach down to the flooreach time that he Wanted to operate the electric switch.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully asI proceed with my specification.

In that form of device embodying the features of my invention shown inthe accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a vacuum cleaner with apivoted handle having my improved handle adjusting mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the lower part thereof in rear elevation,

Fig. 3 is a view taken as indicated by the line 3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a view taken as indicated by the line 4 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, 10 indicates, in general, a machine or deviceadapted for floor use, and as here shown is a vacuum cleaner of anordinar type, supported on the two forward rollers 11 and the two rearMy improvedha-ndle adjusting mechanism comprises a segment 20 mounted onthe vacuum cleaner. As here shown, such seg ment is provided with ahole, through which one of the pivot pins 15 extends (see Fig. 4). Thissegment 20 is further provided with two tongues 21 and 22 respectively,fastened to a part of the casing of the cleaner by means of machinescrews 21 and 22*, respectively, in order to hold the segment 20 firmlyin place. The segment 20 is provided with any desired number of notches,in accordance with the number of desired positions for the handle. Ihave here shown three such notches, two being rectangular, as indicatedby and 31, and

. the other indicated by 32, having one of its sides beveled. Mounted onone arm of the bail 13 above the segment 20, in any suitable manner(here shown. integrally formed therewith) is a cylindrically shapedcasing 40, provided with a cylindrical, vertical bore 41. Adapted toride on the surface of the segment 20 and engage the notches therein, isa detent provided on its upper end with a rod 51, extending upwardlythrough the bore 41 (see Fig. 4). Surrounding the rod 51 and lyingwithin the bore 41, is a spiral spring 52 adapted to yieldingly hold thedetent 50 in engagement with the segment 20 and tend to force the sameinto engagement with the notches therein. It will be seen, that by thisconstruction, the handle will be automatically held in certainpositions, depending upon the notch in the segment 20 with which thedetent 50 is engaged. For example (as shown in'Fig. 1), when the detent50 is engaged with the notch 31, the handle 13 will be held in anupright position.

The following means are provided for disengaging the detent 50 from thenotches in the segment 20. Attached to the upper end of the rod 51, is asmaller rod 60, extending substantially the entire length of the handle13 and lying in a groove therein. This rod is adapted for slidingmovement in said groove and is held in position by a series of straps,such as 63. The upper end of the rod is bent outwardly at right angles,as indicated by 64, and has its end adapted for vertical slidingmovement in a slot in a plate 66. Lying behind the plate 66 is a pivotedmember 67, adapted to be operated by the handle 68. This pivoted member67 is' provided with a slot 69, through which the end 64 of the rod 60passes. The slot 69 is so formed that upward movement of the lever 68serves to pull up the rod 60, and disengage the detent 50 from thenotches in the segment 20. The slot 69 is so arranged that when thelever 68 is pulled all the way up, the detent 50 will be automaticallyheld. out of engagement against the pressure of the spring 52. A slightdownward movement of the lever 68, however, permits the spring 52 toact; and this spring forces the detent down wardly into engagement withthe segment 20 and in one of the notches with which it might register.It will be noted that the notch 32, having one side beveled, permits thehandle to be raised, so that the detent 50 will ride out of this notch,without requiring use of the handle 68, to disengaged the sametherefrom.

The discharge opening of the cleaner is indicated by 105 and hasattached to it the bag'l06, which serves to collect the dust. The upperend of the dust bag 106 is supported by attachment to the-handle asindicated by the chain 107, having its lower end fastened to the end ofthe bag and its upper end fastened to a screw eye 108 in the handle 14.It will be noted that the discharge outlet 105 is directed backwardlyand upwardly at an angle of about 45.

.By means of this construction, there will be 'no constriction of theneck of the bag when the handle is in the substantially 45 position.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention,itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in ,the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in theappended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all noveltyinherent in my invention as broadly as possible in view of the priorart.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a vacuum cleaner having an operating handleand-an element pivoting the handle to the suction housing, a relativelystationary locking segment through which said element passes, the upperportion of said segment being outwardly offset from the handle, tonguesextending from said segment and fastened to said housing, a lockingdetent bifurcated at its lower end straddling and coacting with saidsegment, a casing ofl'set on said handle in which said detent slides,and means on the upper end of the handle to actuate said detent.

2. In combination with a vacuum cleaner having an operating handle andan element pivoting the handle to the suction housing, a relativelystationary locking segment through which said element passes, the upperfrom said segment and fastened to said housing, a locking detentbifurcated at its lower end straddling and cooperating with saidsegment, a casing oflset on said handle 5 in Which said detent slides,detent tensioning means mounted in said casing, and means on the upperend of the handle to actuate said detent to cause the same toselectively connect with the edge notches of the segment in the desiredangular adjustment of the 10 handle.

In witness whereof; I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 14 day ofAugust 1923.

EDWARD W. WIEHLE. L 8.

